General Policies

AWS endorses the principle of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all certification programs and prohibits discrimination against its applicants, candidates, certified persons, staff, and volunteers with regard to age, sex, ethnic origin, race, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal or state law. All AWS decisions related to certification (including granting, suspending, and withdrawing a credential) are made impartially and are free from discriminatory judgments.

General: The AWS Certification Program Agreement (the “CPA”) contains terms that govern your participation in the AWS Certification program. The CPA is a contractual arrangement between AWS and any individual who registers for an AWS Certification exam.

Non-compliance: If AWS, in its sole discretion, determines that you violated the terms of the CPA, your exam scores may be canceled, your AWS Certification(s) may be revoked, you may be required to retake an exam, or you may be prohibited from participating in the AWS Certification program.

Data forensics: AWS uses data forensics to identify statistically anomalous exam results. Data forensics is used as a basis for taking enforcement action when there is no reasonable explanation for a statistically anomalous exam result. When the validity of an exam result is in question based on forensic analysis, AWS may invalidate the exam score and revoke the related certification before notifying the affected candidate of next steps. AWS may also require candidates to retake the exam at a mutually agreeable time and at a location chosen by AWS, or candidates may be prohibited from participating in the AWS Certification program in the future. Please visit the Data Forensics page to get more complete information about the data forensics program.

You will be presented with the Candidate Code of Conduct before your exam launches. The Candidate Code of Conduct serves to remind you of conduct that threatens the integrity, validity, and security of AWS Certification exams and that you previously agreed to refrain from such conduct when you accepted the terms of the CPA during exam registration. If you do not agree to the Candidate Code of Conduct, your exam will be terminated and you will not receive a refund.

If a candidate is the subject of an investigation by AWS, the candidate must fully cooperate with the investigation, produce all documents, materials, and information requested by AWS, and truthfully and completely answer all questions presented to the candidate, whether by email, phone, in person, or any other method. Failure or refusal to cooperate with AWS’s investigation, or the presentation of false or misleading information to AWS or its representatives in the course of an AWS investigation, shall constitute a breach of the CPA and serve as a separate and independent basis for AWS to take action against the candidate’s certification(s).

If an exam proctor determines that a candidate violated testing rules or procedures while an exam session is ongoing, the session may be terminated. If after an exam session has ended the test delivery provider or AWS determine that a candidate has violated testing rules or procedures, or if a violation detected during the exam session requires additional sanctions beyond terminating the session, AWS will notify the candidate by email about the violation and the sanctions. In addition to the violation and sanctions, the email will outline the appeals process for challenging AWS’s decision, which is also outlined in the following sections. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the email address associated with their AWS Certification Account is current, checked frequently, and accepts emails from [email protected].

Any candidate who violates testing rules, policies, or procedures may be subject to the following actions or sanctions, including but not limited to:

• Warning
• Invalidation of certification exam results without receiving a refund or any other form of compensation
  
• Required retake of the exam by redeeming a voucher provided by AWS. AWS will determine the criteria for retaking the exam including how and where the exam may be administered and a deadline by which the retake must occur
  
• Restrict exam delivery modality for future certification exam(s)
  
• Revocation of the certification related to the violation
• Revocation of all AWS Certification(s)
• Prohibited from participating in the AWS Certification program for a limited or indefinite period of time
  

Candidates who have received a written notice that they are prohibited from participating in the AWS Certification Program in accordance with the CPA may appeal the conclusions and sanction(s) within 14 calendar days from the date AWS sent the notice to the candidate. Candidates must follow the appeal instructions provided in the notice. Candidates will be required to provide a written statement describing the basis of their appeal and a response to any specific questions/requests from AWS, why the appeal should be granted, and all evidence that supports the candidate’s appeal. AWS will not consider appeals received more than 14 calendar days after the date AWS sent the notice. All evidence supporting the appeal must be included when the initial appeal statement is submitted. Any evidence provided to AWS after the initial appeal statement is submitted will not be reviewed unless specifically requested by AWS.

The AWS Certification Security team (“the Security team”) will review the statement and evidence provided by the candidate and investigate further if necessary. If further investigation reveals additional evidence or violations of AWS policy, the Security team will notify the candidate and provide them with an opportunity to respond to any new allegations. If the Security team overturns sanctions that prohibit a candidate from participating in the AWS Certification Program, the candidate will be notified.

The Certification Candidate Appeals Committee (“the Committee”) is responsible for reviewing appeals if the Security team does not lift sanctions prohibiting a candidate from participating in the AWS Certification Program and the facts and claims of the appeal are substantially different from appeals previously adjudicated by the Committee. The Security team will present their investigative findings and the appeal statement and evidence to the Security Manager or the Security Manager’s designee for review. The Security Manager, in their sole discretion, will determine whether the facts of the violation, appeal statement, and additional evidence are substantially similar to prior cases resolved by the Committee. If the Security Manager does find substantial similarity with any prior cases resolved by the Committee, the Security Manager will decide the outcome of the appeal consistent with prior precedent established by the Committee. If the Security Manager does not find substantial similarity, the appeal will be presented to the Committee and the Committee’s decision to uphold, reduce, or overturn any sanctions will be final.

The Committee will consist of at least three members of the AWS Certification team who did not investigate, sanction, or collaborate on the matter that is being appealed. The Committee will review the sanctions, collaborate, and decide whether each individual sanction should be upheld, reduced, or removed. The decision to uphold or reduce an individual sanction will be determined by the majority vote of the Committee. The Committee may not increase the severity of any sanction under review.

After the Security Manager or the Committee has rendered a decision, the Security team will communicate that decision to the candidate and ensure that any sanctions that were reduced or removed are appropriately resolved. The decision by the Security Manager or the Committee is final, and the candidate’s only recourse to challenge the decision is through arbitration as specified in the AWS Customer Agreement.

Candidates ages 13-17 are permitted to take AWS Certification exams with the consent of their parent or legal guardian. Candidates must be at least 13 years old at the time of scheduling an exam. This special process is outlined below:

1. Create an AWS Certification Account: The parent or legal guardian must create an AWS Certification Account for their teenage candidate, and the account must be in their teenage candidate’s name. After creating the account, note the Candidate ID found in the top right corner of the page. This will be needed in step 2 below.

2. Open a customer service case: The parent or legal guardian must next open a customer service case with AWS Training and Certification. In order to avoid delays in processing requests for their teenager(s) to take the test, the parent or legal guardian must enter the following information into the case form’s fields:

• First Name: Enter the parent/legal guardian’s first name
• Last Name: Enter the parent/legal guardian’s last name
• Company Name: Enter the teenage candidate’s first and last name
• Email Address: Enter the parent/legal guardian’s email address
• Country/Region: Select your applicable country/region
• Telephone: Enter the parent/legal guardian’s telephone number
• Inquiry Type: Select “Certification”
• Additional Details: Select “Scheduling/Accommodations”
• How can we help you?: Enter the phrase “Teenage Candidate” immediately followed by the login ID from the teenage candidate’s AWS Certification Account

Please note: If a teenage candidate files the initial ticket, they will need to have their parent or legal guardian submit a new ticket completed properly to initiate the process.

3. Complete a consent form: AWS Customer Service will respond to your customer service case with further instructions. Reply to the customer support email and attach the completed customer support form (available below). The parental/legal guardian consent form must be completed by both the teenage candidate and the parent/legal guardian who will accompany the teenage candidate to their scheduled appointment.

4. After consent form approval, assist in scheduling the exam: Approximately five to seven business days after receipt of the consent form, AWS Customer Service will either notify the parent/legal guardian if any further information is needed, or if the consent form is approved. Upon receiving that copy of the approved form, the parent/legal guardian may then assist their teenage candidate in scheduling an AWS Certification exam. They may do so by signing in to their AWS Certification Account and selecting “Pearson VUE” as the test delivery provider for the appropriate exam.

5. Follow proper identification (ID) steps on the day of the exam appointment:

• The teenage candidate must present one form of photo ID. School IDs are acceptable.
• The parent/legal guardian who is identified on the consent form must accompany the teen candidate to the test center and provide a valid, government-issued ID that matches the name listed on the consent form, as well as a copy of the consent form.
• The parent/legal guardian must sign the log sheet next to the candidate’s signature in order to verify the candidate’s identity.
• The parent/legal guardian is not permitted to wait in the test center after the admission process is completed.

Because certification exam policies often change, the scheduling process above must be repeated, and a new consent form completed and submitted, for each AWS Certification exam taken by a teenage candidate.

AWS Certification digital badges are a way to visually portray your AWS Certification achievement. We provide digital badges as a benefit of earning an AWS Certification to showcase certification status. AWS Certification digital badges are provided via Credly’s Acclaim platform and can be accessed, along with all your AWS Certified benefits, from your AWS Certification Account. You can use the sharing features within Credly’s Acclaim platform to post your badge on your social media newsfeeds and add your digital badge to your professional profile.

AWS Certification badges should be featured in an unaltered state, on white or very light backgrounds that are devoid of distracting patterns or imagery, with the appropriate taglines place below the logo. Do not take any of the following actions:

• Distorting the badge
• Altering the badge
• Altering the colors
• Overlaying graphics or text
• Placing the badge on a patterned background
• Placing the badge over busy imagery
• Placing the badge on a background with low contrast

AWS authorizes the use of the AWS Certification Mark in accordance with the rules set forth below:

• AWS Certification requires meeting specific certification requirements, including passing an AWS Certification exam. Only individuals who have been certified by an official AWS test provider are allowed to use the AWS Certification Mark.
• The AWS Certification Mark may only be used in connection with you presenting yourself as an AWS Certified individual. This AWS Certification Mark is non-transferable.
• The AWS Certification Mark may only be reproduced from approved artwork and may not be recreated by any other means, in any other form, or altered in any way, including the use of unapproved taglines, abbreviations, or translations.
• The AWS Certification Mark must never be used to portray AWS products and/or services in a negative way.
• The AWS Certification Mark may not be combined with any other symbols, including words, other logos, icons, graphics, photos, slogans, numbers, or any other design elements.
• The AWS Certification Mark may not be used to imply or suggest that:
  • You have achieved a level of certification that you have not achieved or do not currently have;
  • Any partnership, joint venture, or other relationship exists between you and AWS; or that
    
  • AWS recommends or endorses your services.
• You shall make any revisions respecting the AWS Certification Mark in such materials that AWS may request.

Your acceptance of the AWS Certification Mark indicates your acceptance of the terms and conditions of these guidelines and reconfirms your acceptance of the AWS Certification Program Agreement. AWS reserves the right to change these guidelines and the nature of this program at its own discretion.

For details on specific testing-related policies, please select the links for the appropriate pages below:

• Before Testing: testing accommodations, English as a Second Language (ESL), sanctioned countries
  
• During Testing (Test Day): ID requirements, test center policies, sanctioned and embargoed countries
• After Testing: scoring and reporting, retake policy